Roma close Koulierakis deal, table €25m bid for Read, eye Juanlu Sanchez

Mile Svilar will not return before the international break, with doctors refusing to clear the goalkeeper early despite new instrumental tests on his foot injury, which had been examined with a view to a return for the Champions League clash with Manchester United. He will miss the trips to Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo, with a probable comeback after the break in the match on 21 November at Parma. Roma continue a demanding run of fixtures, and they travel to Udinese on Saturday 31 October at 18:00 with further important absences. Paulo Dybala will not be available for the match at the Bluenergy Arena. Despite Gasperini's optimism and his partial return to group training, the Argentine has been held back as a precaution. He has suffered no setback and the injury has fully healed, but he had felt a slight discomfort before the Cagliari game and the medical staff preferred not to take a risk. The goal is his availability for the Champions League match against Manchester United on 3 November. Roma's attack remains a target in the market, with Endrick, the Brazilian talent of Real Madrid, a name of interest. Despite Mourinho's wish to keep him, the player is weighing offers received in recent weeks, and Serie A would be a welcome destination. AC Milan and Roma remain among the interested clubs, and the player's camp does not rule anything out for January. Michael Yormack, president of Roc Nation Sports International, said: "It is an evolving process. We will see how things go until the end of the year. Endrick is very talented and wants to play. He loves Madrid and his teammates, but a career is short and he wants to make the most of it." With the winter window approaching, further names linked to Roma are circulating. German reports revive interest in Federico Chiesa, who is finding little space at Liverpool and is now willing to sell him for around 15 million euros. The winger is reportedly unhappy with the limited minutes given to him by the new coach Iraola and has begun looking at the Italian market. Initial contacts with Inter were reportedly made without reaching an agreement. Atalanta, Lazio and Milan are also interested alongside Roma. On Rome radio, Alessandro Vocalelli praised the way the substitutes have come on. He said: "I like the way the players coming off the bench enter. The latest was Gollini, who seemed not up to it and instead came on and did very well, as did Balerdi and Mora. It is a Roma that is confirming what was said on the eve of the match." Luigi Ferrajolo added: "On an individual level I really like Lulli: he is growing and deserves to play all the time. Against Cagliari Roma played with fire, not only in terms of the result but also in terms of the game they played."

Endrick is reportedly set to ask for a loan move in January, with Roma still keen to sign the Brazilian forward. Tuttomercatoweb reports that the Real Madrid striker wants to leave, and AC Milan have also asked for information about him. Roma have been tracking Endrick since last summer, when a move was blocked. The former Palmeiras player is not finding room in the Real Madrid side. His only highlight came in Rome, with a Champions League goal, but it did not mark a turning point for him this season. Endrick's agent recently spoke about his future: "I think it is an evolving process. We have to see how things develop from now until the end of the year, before the next transfer window. We had an excellent conversation. He is extremely talented and very eager to play, so we will see what happens. He loves Madrid, he loves the team and his teammates, but ultimately, when you think about the length of a career, it is short, and he wants to make the most of it."

Liverpool are reportedly willing to sell Federico Chiesa for €15 million, according to the German portal Fussball-news.de, with Roma among the clubs tracking the winger. The report says the former Juventus forward has been getting little playing time under new Liverpool coach Iraola, compared with his previous role, and has begun looking towards the Italian market. According to the report, initial contacts were made with Inter, but no agreement has been reached. Roma are also said to be following Chiesa, alongside Atalanta, Lazio and Milan. Liverpool could look to move the player as early as January, the report adds, as he has lost importance in the club's technical plans. The winter window is approaching, and several names linked to Roma are already circulating as Gian Piero Gasperini looks to strengthen his squad. Chiesa was previously of interest to the Giallorossi, and the German report revives that link at a time when the club is looking for reinforcements.

Injuries have given Gian Piero Gasperini the chance to field more youngsters than usual, and Roma's results have stayed steady, Corriere dello Sport points out. Emanuele Lulli and Niccolò Pisilli both featured midweek against Cagliari and have been regulars so far. Lulli has been a true revelation. He is fresh out of the club's youth academy and was supposed to join Avellino on loan, but he stayed because Roma could not sign another wing-back in the summer. He has been seriously pushing Nahuel Molina for minutes, and the club quickly rewarded him with a new contract until 2021. Pisilli has been filling in for Manu Koné and has scored four times already. Rodrigo Mora is still finding his footing after joining Roma in the summer, although he bagged a pivotal goal in one such game. His acquisition could be worth up to €50m, so the club has a lot at stake with him. Gasperini is bringing him along slowly, particularly with Paulo Dybala currently sidelined. With some rotation, and with Koulierakis, Santiago Castro, Wesley and Soulé not too old despite being more seasoned, Roma's starting XI on Wednesday had an average age of 25.8 years. Among the top Serie A teams, only Como field a younger lineup. Injuries and a packed schedule create these kinds of opportunities, and coaches and talents must be ready to seize them. Not everyone does. Gasperini, however, is a master of player development, a process that is not always a straight line and sometimes requires pumping the brakes.

Leonardo Balerdi is set to be regularly available for Roma's away trip to Udine after recovering from the knock he suffered on Saturday. The Argentine defender has already carved out an important role at the club, and his future is tied to a buy-option whose price depends on how often he plays. Despite conceding five goals across the matches against Napoli and Cagliari, Roma's defence remains one of the most solid units in the squad. Balerdi has become a fixed point in the back line, while Daniele Ghilardi and Konstantinos Koulierakis are increasingly part of Gian Piero Gasperini's rotation. The centre-backs have also contributed in attack: eight of Roma's 31 goals this season have come from them, roughly 25% of the total. Balerdi said: "It feels like I've been here for 2-3 years", confirming his desire to stay at the club for a long time. The buy-option clauses are worth €14 million if he plays at least 55% of matches for at least 45 minutes. If he plays between 40% and 55% of matches, the figure would drop by €3 million.

Roma's win over Cagliari has underlined how central the club's young players have become to Gian Piero Gasperini's project. The Giallorossi rely confidently on their Under-23 players, who have made decisive contributions at key moments of matches, as shown by the performances and goals of those who came through the youth sector and have been developed by the coach. Among the positives is the steady progress of Emanuele Lulli, who recently renewed his contract until 2031. The 2005-born defender scored his second consecutive league goal in front of the Curva Sud, and has established himself as a valuable asset and an important presence in the rotation. Alongside him, Niccolò Pisilli has become a consolidated certainty in midfield, combining consistent performances with a nose for goals. According to Il Tempo, the Olimpico clash was also the night of breakthrough for Rodrigo Mora. The 19-year-old Portuguese, who was initially greeted with scepticism over his market valuation, unlocked the match by scoring his first goal in front of the Roma crowd. Gasperini himself praised the young Portuguese's technical qualities after the game, stressing that his imagination is a fundamental factor for the season. The young group is completed by the gradual integration of players such as Koulierakis and Castro, who are asked to provide valid alternatives in a squad that blends the freshness of the youth ranks with the maturity of the senior players. For Gasperini's Roma, young players are no longer just a future prospect but a solid reality capable of making the difference.

Roma's loan contingent produced mixed results across European and domestic competitions this week, with midfielder Luigi Cherubini and midfielder Neil El Aynaoui delivering attacking contributions while others awaited their chance. Cherubini, on loan at Benevento with a right of option and obligation to buy, scored in the 93rd minute of Benevento's 2–0 win over Cesena. Introduced from the bench in the 79th minute, the 2004-born winger capitalized on a defensive error by Ilic, rounded the goalkeeper and finished to seal victory. He was booked in the 81st minute and initially had a goal ruled out for offside before his late winner. The performance earned him a rating of 7 from BeneventoNews24 and PianetaSerieB as Benevento secured a third consecutive victory. El Aynaoui, a midfielder on loan at RB Lipsia with a right of rescission, provided the assist for Banzuzi's opening goal after just one minute in a 6–0 Bundesliga demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt. Deployed in the starting lineup by Demichelis, El Aynaoui contributed to a dominant first half that saw Lipsia lead 4–0 at the interval, including a hat-trick from Nkunku. He was booked in the 27th minute and substituted in the 58th when the scoreline already stood at 5–0. Elsewhere, defender Filippo Reale (Carrarese, on loan with option and counter-option) played the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 away win over Padova, maintaining a clean sheet. Young defender Mohamed Seck (Foggia, on loan) completed all 90 minutes in a 3–1 home defeat to Potenza and received a rating of 5, criticized for poor positioning during the opposition's counter-attacks. Forward Artem Dovbyk (Bologna, on loan with right of rescission) returned to the squad after a muscular injury to his flexors but remained unused on the bench in Bologna's 2–1 away win at Lecce. Forward Robinio Vaz (Hull City) was named in the squad for a 2–2 Premier League draw against Everton but played no part, remaining on the bench for the full 90 minutes.

Roma's players on loan across Europe experienced a mixed week of midweek and league fixtures. Neil El Aynaoui performed well for RB Leipzig despite a 2–0 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, completing 31 of 34 passes and winning 8 of 14 duels while receiving a yellow card in the 74th minute. His statistical rating reached 7.2, among Leipzig's best performances. Anass Salah-Eddine made a convincing debut for Panathinaikos in a Greek Cup tie against Kifisia, playing all 90 minutes on the left flank in a 2–0 victory. FotMob rated him 7.3 for a clean display as Panathinaikos dominated with 71 per cent possession in the first half. By contrast, Angeliño's week at Deportivo La Coruña ended disastrously: he was sent off for a challenge on Miguel Sierra in the 59th minute of a midweek fixture against Sevilla—initially given a yellow card before the VAR review led to a direct red—leaving his side to lose 1–0 already down in the scoreline. Statistical ratings gave him just 5.7, and Deportivo manager Hidalgo noted how the expulsion undermined the team's comeback effort. Angeliño subsequently missed the following 1–1 draw against Betis through suspension. Mohamed Seck at Foggia produced sharply contrasting displays within days. Playing 90 minutes in a goalless midweek draw against Savoia, he was identified as Foggia's best performer, winning nearly every duel against opposing attackers. Coach Auteri retained him for the next match against Inter U23, but this time his form dipped noticeably. Foggia lost 2–1, and a careless passing error by Seck enabled the decisive goal from Fumagalli. Foggiacalciomania rated him 5.5, noting good physical condition but a costly mistake. The week illustrated the growth trajectory of a defender aged just 20, with evident talent and physicality that must be coupled with fewer lapses in concentration. Elsewhere, Federico Nardin at Pescara played the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 midweek draw against Gubbio, earning ratings of 6 and 6.9 for personality and reliability despite some refinements needed, but sat out the subsequent 1–0 win at Vado. Filippo Reale completed 90 minutes for Carrarese in a 1–0 home defeat to Benevento, earning 6 and 6.7 ratings for an orderly display, while Luigi Cherubini entered at the 77th minute for Benevento and struck the post with a close chance in the 83rd. Radoslaw Zelezny, Perugia's goalkeeper, conceded five goals across two matches but received ratings of 6 in both a 3–0 home loss to Spezia and a 2–0 away defeat at Grosseto, with no clear responsibility on most goals. Robinio Vaz at Hull City entered off the bench in the 78th minute during a 2–1 loss at Newcastle after more than ten minutes without notable incident, marking his second consecutive Premier League appearance. Marash Kumbulla remained unused at Rayo Vallecano despite being named in squads for a 2–1 win against Espanyol and a 1–1 draw at Osasuna. Jan Ziolkowski has not returned to action for Monza, continuing recovery from plantar fasciitis. Artem Dovbyk spent another week without playing time at Bologna.

Angeliño, loaned to Deportivo La Coruña this summer with a buy option, made his first start in a year in the sixth matchday of Liga between Deportivo and Seville on 17 September 2026. The move brought no luck. After sitting on the bench for the opening four rounds, Angeliño was fielded in the starting XI but lasted only until the 60th minute, when he was sent off for a hard challenge on Miguel Sierra. The referee initially showed yellow but upgraded it to red after consulting the VAR. The dismissal came at the worst moment for Deportivo, who were already trailing 0–1 following Sierra's goal in the 52nd minute. Seville held on to win 0–1, leaving Angeliño's long-awaited return to competitive action marked by a straight red card.

Injuries have given Gian Piero Gasperini the chance to field more youngsters than usual, and Roma's results have stayed steady, Corriere dello Sport points out. Emanuele Lulli and Niccolò Pisilli both featured midweek against Cagliari and have been regulars so far. Lulli has been a true revelation. He is fresh out of the club's youth academy and was supposed to join Avellino on loan, but he stayed because Roma could not sign another wing-back in the summer. He has been seriously pushing Nahuel Molina for minutes, and the club quickly rewarded him with a new contract until 2021. Pisilli has been filling in for Manu Koné and has scored four times already. Rodrigo Mora is still finding his footing after joining Roma in the summer, although he bagged a pivotal goal in one such game. His acquisition could be worth up to €50m, so the club has a lot at stake with him. Gasperini is bringing him along slowly, particularly with Paulo Dybala currently sidelined. With some rotation, and with Koulierakis, Santiago Castro, Wesley and Soulé not too old despite being more seasoned, Roma's starting XI on Wednesday had an average age of 25.8 years. Among the top Serie A teams, only Como field a younger lineup. Injuries and a packed schedule create these kinds of opportunities, and coaches and talents must be ready to seize them. Not everyone does. Gasperini, however, is a master of player development, a process that is not always a straight line and sometimes requires pumping the brakes.

Roman radio pundits debated Roma's squad depth, Paulo Dybala's fitness and the Udinese and Manchester United fixtures in a round-up of the capital's football talk shows. David Rossi of Rete Sport said he was worried that Roma are short of players, pointing to Matías Soulé and Niccolò Pisilli, who he said have been playing three matches a week for some time. He said Roma play a demanding style and that the midfield is very thin: if Roma rest Roon, who is not in good shape, Cristante still has to play against Udinese, and then in Manchester he asked what would happen without him. Rossi called the decision to use four midfielders, attributed to Gasperini and D'Amico, an enormous error of judgement. He said Gasperini had wanted the contracts of Dybala and Pellegrini, adding that Roma would be in a better position had they signed two players who were alive, even if less talented. On Dybala, Rossi said: "Dybala was a beast here, a beast there, but now Gasperini has realised he has the pain threshold of a 5-year-old child. Mora has done more than Dybala, the same as Soulè, but you can't say it..." Fabio Petruzzi of Rete Sport said Roma have clearly improved on last year, showing they are a strong side. He said last year you struggled and created little, while now Roma look like a stronger Atalanta. He said they have reached the top but can improve in the transfer market with two wide players and a midfielder. He said Roma were less of a team than usual against Cagliari but still won, and that Cagliari had given them more problems than Como and Inter. He added that some tiredness is to be expected. Claudio Moroni, also of Rete Sport, argued that Dybala should be sacrificed on the left with Soulè on the right, saying Soulè's best form comes from the right and that Dybala's performance hardly changes between the two flanks. Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo praised Mora for a fine headed goal, but warned against calling him a new Messi. Turning to Juventus, he said their crisis was 80% the team's fault and 20% Spalletti's, adding that Conte was not being considered and that Pioli is the available option. Lorenzo Pes of Tele Radio Stereo said Dybala only did physiotherapy yesterday but he remains convinced the player wants to play the Champions League match against Manchester United. He said the injury has healed, that Dybala can theoretically train and has overcome the physical problem. He said the medical staff and the player's own feelings will decide, and that Dybala would probably try to rejoin the group partially today. He said keeping the door open for Manchester is important, and that having him on the bench for Udine would also be valuable. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said Roma were robbed in yesterday's match against Venezia. He said Udinese have shown signs of revival, having recovered most of their players including Zaniolo, and that the fixture worries him. If Balerdi has recovered, he expects him to start, with Ghilardi possibly replacing Mancini, and expects Lulli alongside Wesley and Pisilli with Cristante. On Como, he said they have always been title candidates and that anyone who thinks otherwise is wrong, given their strong players, great football and a fine coach. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio said he had backed Castro but that a player who has not played for two months cannot simply step in and become a star. He said the transfer market has brought Roma reserves, good alternatives who are not able to play as starters, and that when Malen is missing you notice straight away. Nando Orsi of Radio Radio questioned whether Roma are too dependent on Malen, pointing out that he brought Roma into the Champions League. He said that when he has been absent, Roma have struggled to score, but that Roma are not bottom of the table despite heavy absences, noting Lazio are top despite missing four key players. Ilario Di Giovambattista of Radio Radio named the Roma players he would take for Lazio: Malen, Svilar, and Ghilardi, whom he said he adores. He would also take Koné for midfield, and said that for Soulè he would keep Isaksen and put Soulè on the bench.

Roma's win over Cagliari has underlined how central the club's young players have become to Gian Piero Gasperini's project. The Giallorossi rely confidently on their Under-23 players, who have made decisive contributions at key moments of matches, as shown by the performances and goals of those who came through the youth sector and have been developed by the coach. Among the positives is the steady progress of Emanuele Lulli, who recently renewed his contract until 2031. The 2005-born defender scored his second consecutive league goal in front of the Curva Sud, and has established himself as a valuable asset and an important presence in the rotation. Alongside him, Niccolò Pisilli has become a consolidated certainty in midfield, combining consistent performances with a nose for goals. According to Il Tempo, the Olimpico clash was also the night of breakthrough for Rodrigo Mora. The 19-year-old Portuguese, who was initially greeted with scepticism over his market valuation, unlocked the match by scoring his first goal in front of the Roma crowd. Gasperini himself praised the young Portuguese's technical qualities after the game, stressing that his imagination is a fundamental factor for the season. The young group is completed by the gradual integration of players such as Koulierakis and Castro, who are asked to provide valid alternatives in a squad that blends the freshness of the youth ranks with the maturity of the senior players. For Gasperini's Roma, young players are no longer just a future prospect but a solid reality capable of making the difference.